Archive for October 28, 2006

We celebrated my friend’s birthday last night. She’s the last one of a group of us to turn 29. So of course the topic of conversation turned to next year and the big ‘3’-‘0’. One of my friends said she’d set her expectations to high for 30. At 30 she planned on retiring from her current job. She planned on making a living off her dream job. But as 30 is now less than a year away we all know that won’t be her destiny. So she said she planned on spending her birthday crying.

That got me thinking. Perhaps by aspiring to such lofty goals and dreams we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment. My husband reiterated this notion a few weeks ago. I said I wanted to retire when we reached a net worth of $2 million. He said to be careful. He said I might be setting myself up for disappointment. After all, what if we don’t reach $2 million anytime soon?

So what’s the moral… Not to dream? I think the problem with just dreaming is that you aren’t taking the steps necessary to actually achieve the dream. In order to actually achieve the goal you have to work hard, take risks (like changing your job), or settle down (if a family is your dream). It’s not just having the dream that’s important, it’s figuring out how to achieve it.

My goal is to be healthy. If possible to live pain free. To have both of my houses paid off and possibly retire by age 40. To have a child (God willing). To enjoy every moment… or at least most of them. To be grateful for what I have and to feel blessed for those around me.

I am attempting to meet all of my goals head on. I have been practicing yoga and meditation, eating better, visiting an acupuncturist and naturopath, putting extra money towards principal, squirreling away 15% of my salary, thinking twice before pulling out my credit cards, and spending more time with friends and family.

I might not meet all of my goals before 30, but I hope by living right and making the best decisions for my life, I won’t be crying on my birthday.